Before I Turn In. A Thought...

On my way out of work tonight at the gym, I was chatting it up with one of the sweetest front desk staff members.  We happen to be talking about all the events that were happening outside the doors. You see, we are located in the heart of downtown.  So a lot of times, once you step outside the gym doors, you are suddenly thrust into anything from, people, hearing music, smelling amazing aromas of the food, from all the restaurants surrounding us to, cigarette smoke to the smell of urine and sewer.  Yes, quite a range, I agree.

But, we were looking across the street at the old Crest Theater. There was an event that was getting ready to start and she said, "What I would give for a tub of buttery popcorn right now."  I smiled and replied, "The struggle is real isn't it? It's all around us.   Don't let it happen...." She smiled and she said something that hit me.  I was so GRATEFUL to learn, someone else had finally got it too.  She understands it's not a one-sided thing.  It does not discriminate.  She ended the conversation before she had to attend to a member, "You know, I'm grateful to have this job at this gym.  It has taught me, and I have learned from talking to the different members, WE ALL STRUGGLE.  IT'S NOT JUST ME,  IT'S ALL OF US.  EVEN YOU. YOU ARE IN SHAPE, YOU HAVE TO WORK TO KEEP THAT SHAPE.  WE ALL STRUGGLE.  

She couldn't be more right.  I walked away with a smile on my face.  She has finally released so much pressure off her shoulders and she's lighter for it.   You are not alone.  Temptation is everywhere, just don't be so hard on yourself. We all slip.  Then we wake up and we are blessed with hitting the re-set button!

Heck I'm struggling as I write this.  I want a snack, but it's almost 9 p.m. LOL...Have a great night!

If you look at the bottom of this photo,  you see our gym roof has basketball courts, fire pits & flat screen.

#myphotograhy

My Best,
That Gym Girl

FUNNY ENCOUNTERS IN GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

Throughout the 28 years that I've been teaching group fitness classes, there have been a LOT of shall we say, blooper moments, encounters from members (that they have shared with me) and things that have happened in classes that are just hysterical.  Group fitness can be a total blast!  Many have seen things that have made them scratch their heads LOL...Many of us instructors have our own personal thoughts running through our heads when things are going array (Like my own thoughts). 

I thought it would be fun to let you in on that.  Perhaps share some of those off the wall, funny, curious, almost embarrassing moments with YOU.  My only disclaimer to this article, is that, YES I could share all the serene, positive, zen moments, but today I want to share some funny times, so please know this is all IN FUN! :

1. Where are your boxer BRIEFS, HELLO -- stop moving so fast...Oh Lord, I need to look away!!!  Doesn't that hurt?  Ladies, yes, I see you looking him, then back at me TO SAY SOMETHING...!!!  Um.....
2. Oh my gddddd, these CRAMPS.  I can't.  I have to, dammmmnnnn!! I just want to lay down. Maybe I'll start with the ending stretching part first, and forget to get back up....I wonder if they'll notice.....
3. Please, oh no, NO...NO DON'T CRAP IN MY CLASS, hurry GO. You can make it....Nobody cares about your water bottle!!!!!!    HURRY GO, IT'S FAR!  
4. Please God, please don't let this tampon fall out. (I'm sorry, I know, TMI ) And there it goes.....Damn burpees!
5. Am I the only coordinated fool in this room???!!!!!!!! C'monn!
Crap, now I have salvage my choreography and freestyle. Damn you people...!!!!
6.  Why do you have chopsticks on your person while taking my GROUP EXERCISE CLASS?  
7. Geez, what was I thinking staying out so late last night, I'm on 4 hours of sleep. I smell like Bar. Just barrrr.  Ew.  I wish I was a yoga instructor right nowww, FML!! (ooops sorry my fellow beautiful instructors that happen to teach yoga, no dig, no, no none at all.)
8. That ladies maxi pad seriously just flew out from her pant leg.  How do I help her to play it off so she can get it?  OMG! 
9. I must remember to put on my grocery list, GOLD BOND powder for men. I feel terrible.  I didn't know their balls rub together while I make them do those scissor abs; causing friction. I'm SO SORRY!  I have a proverbial  pair, that's all!  SOMEBODY tell me these things!

10.  Oh he is so hot.  DAMMNNNN.  Geez that's ANOTHER FML!  Are there levels to FML????!!!  The end. (I don't mix business with pleasure)
11. Someone just farted during crunches, IN THE FRONT ROW - IN FRONT OF THE HUGE  FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

12. Wow, incontinence IS REAL, another FMLLLLLLLL.  It's only because, well never mind. 

13.  How do I tell that guy he has a huge hole in his shorts and the front desk can practically see his man parts?  Whyyy?  Grrrr.
14.  Creepy.  Telling me "I can smell  your soul!" Who says things like that to their instructor? 
15.  That ladies knee is on the side of her leg AND SHE WANTS ME TO DO WHAT?  KNOCK IT INTO PLACE?  Drop the mic....

16.  And I'm mopping up puke for the millionth time.  I see she had Greek yogurt for breakfast...FMLLLL!
17. What in the hell kind of exercise is THAT?  I never seen anything like it in my life!!  I can't even steal the moves! 
18. CRAP, I just messed up . DID ANYONE NOTICE? Dammmit, yup...DAMN FRONT ROW!  :)
19.  No, no, OPEN YOUR EYES. Please do not lose your balance and fall off the bike.  Wait is he praying? No he's falling asleep!
20. I'm picking up teeth.  GREAT -- NOBODY LISTENS TO THE TEACHER --- OH NO!  I had a good play list too!!
21.  This lady keeps coming into my class with these damn 70's headphones on (they must be 5 lbs!) while STILL standing in the front row under the speaker -- MOVE TO THE BACK ROW.  Now, THERE's an idea...Just sayin'
22.  Great view -- NO explanation. I do a lot of looking a way...Grrrr...SMILE!
23. Am I in the Twilight Zone, or is this person actually walking up to the front of the room (while I'm conducting a PACKED step class, back in the day) and HIKING HER LEG UP ON THE MIRROR TO STRETCH? HELLO DO YOU SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE?  DO YOU HEAR THE MUSIC?  THERE IS A FITNESS CLASS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE ...Smh

24.  This lady literally just drove 6 miles and timed it just right that my class had just ended. Really?  Blending in with 12 people to get a damn STAMP for completing the class THAT JUST ENDED - THAT YOU DIDN'T TAKE, and you don't think I see YOU?
25. God, I stink all the time.  I'm gym clothes A LOT. I have no game in gym clothes. I stink! No, no please don't come up and ask me something -- I STINK!  However, it's a great weapon in the grocery store when people get in your space WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO PAY AND THEY ARE ALL UP ON YOU!
26. I can't see crap right now and I just thought one person was a different person and I told my friend to wave at him with me....Ooops wrong guy at the gym.  I'm blind as hell....Laser surgery on bucket list
27. Smiling isn't as easy as I thought it would be while one is exerting themselves - while exercising.  
28.  Who am I to ask people to whoop/holler back at me when I just commanded them to get out breath.  I need to make my damn mind up. I wonder what they are thinking right now...They look so seriouuussss -- like they want hurt me!
29. I have to pee and I have 30 damn more minutes.  Dammmn, I'm so behind on my Keegals.  

30. Why is this guy bringing into my class, a full box of Cereal and eating it while exercising?  This is a new one!  Odd!  He didn't even share!
31. I'm not sure if I should tell that lady her areola has now successfully made an appearance in class and that a sports bra is of great help for these things.
32.  I literally just mooned the class! Half asleep, teacher didn't show up to her 5:30 A.M. class. I get the call to rush over and help. Guess I forgot my workout pants under my sweats....I should be tanned at all times, wow!  I'M SORRY FOR THAT.  You just SAW MY ARSE!!! OMG!!!!  ..OOOPS - I'M NOT AWAKE!
33. Thank you for literally getting in my personal space and screaming, "I DON'T LIKE YOU." There's the door.....
34. I wonder if anyone will notice I'm wearing two different tennis shoes on each foot...Note to self: Don't pack gym bag in the dark. 
35.  Why, why -- WHY is that guy ALWAYS kicking crazy!  It's kickboxing  not the ROCKETTES?  The members nick-named him, "HIGH KICK" .

Some of you could POSSIBLY ADD ON TO THIS.  You yourself have had GYM THOUGHTS as you people watch, or something happens to YOU while working out.  Comment below and PLEASE, DO share...Let's keep the smiling going...

How Often Do You Snort Social Media

Sometimes it can be incredibly frustrating to sit back and watch people lie to themselves.  They also lie to us when they PUT IT OUT THERE--OUT LOUD, to the UNIVERSE.   Wishy-washy isn't 100% dedication. Leaving one component out of health and wellness isn't 100% dedication.  It's in fact, 50%.  That can lead to zero if it keeps going.

I watch people more concerned about social media than actually taking care of themselves. Their DAILY dose is SOCIAL MEDIA. Their first spoonful usually takes place right when they open their eyes in the morning.  Could you imagine if you used at least 50% of the time that you inject your life with social media posting selfies and the distractions you place in front of you (a.k.a fun at every single opportunity for social media opportunities) to dedicate to your FITNESS? This isn't to suggest fun is out of the question. But have you ever tried just having phone and not taking ANY pictures, or not posting the pictures that you did take? Some just can't even hold back.  Sadly, many don't seem to realize the accountability they put out loud, out to the Universe just isn't their truth.  It's a wish. It's talk. It's not action.  It's a lie.

As if there are not enough excuses made to not to work out, now social media is yet another non-verbalized excuse/distraction. Studies show, that a high percentage of adults will fall off the band wagon during their health and wellness journey.  Maybe you have before.  This can be the very cause to send you down back down "let down" street.  The street you yourself could be creating and do not even realize it yet.  Many are on that street already and don't know how to get off if it.  But, on the flip side, I myself and many people do use social media to document and hold ourselves accountable. We create a 70/30 rule.  70% of the time OFF social media. You can do the math and know what the 30% is.  We can take pictures while working out, sure.  There is a balance to it (it's called wait until you get home to post, use the post to hold yourself accountable.).  I personally, do not take a lot of pictures while working out, BECAUSE I'M WORKING OUT and I utilize that time to focus.  The world does NOT need to know what I am doing constantly at every bicep curl and push up, every stop in my car and every time I walk through those gym doors, or need to know what I'm doing every moment of the day.   That time to myself is so precious.  Shutting out the world to do me!  Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.  

I actually had 2 brand new clients document the time they spent on social media vs. how much time they spent working on their health and wellness goals.  One was so completely addicted to social media, he couldn't get through a workout, he had to keep checking to see how many, "LIKES" he got on a picture he posted.  At times, he would disappear to the bathroom to try and get ONE GOOD SELFIE. (Now you and I both know, sometimes you have to take A LOT OF PICTURES to get a good one.  Ha ha ha.  I can be time consuming. )  I have to shake my head at this.   I find that to be a problem.  Social media can become and addiction.  For some, it is, and they have no clue that they are now an addict.  I've heard some say they are getting off of social media for a while, only to find, that never even happened, they couldn't follow through with their words they put out there.  Ugh.  They are addicts. If you are a food addict/emotional eater, you have a VERY, VERY high percentage of rate of transferring one addiction to the next.    The ego changes, the attitude changes and instead of building their future life of health and wellness they are too worried about how many followers they have and how many likes they get.  It's KIM KARDASHIAN in the making (well you know what I mean ha ha ha).  There's only one KIM!  The addict NEEDS, no I'm sorry, MUST  be seen, when really they can be seen in REAL LIFE doing what they tell the world they are going to do. Some have gone as far as BUYING followers and likes.  It's obvious when this happens, because many of those purchases of those FOLLOWERS are fake accounts utilized only for that purpose.  WOW!!  But all of this is for what? It's to boost your popularity.   It boggles my mind. 

I put the clients to the test for 21 days.  It takes 21 days to create a habit.  I asked them, to stay off of social media for 21 days, PERIOD. I became their accountability partner. They post -- I KNOW.   Instead, I had them journal their progress, their feelings (yes while on a health and wellness journey there are new things you discover about yourself through the process. Some good and some not so good. If you are too busy with your face in the phone you will miss some INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES to learn about your past self and present self.) as they were on a new journey in their lives.  I told them to go and find those friends that have a good balance.  Those that have some of the same goals, and build back up those relationships, as they themselves damaged relationships by their addiction. Take classes and find different ways of working out.  This also gave them more of an opportunity to cook, food prep and try new dishes.  This gave them more time to spend with their families, QUALITY TIME instead of face in phone and statusing every damn move they made.

The result was INCREDIBLE.  Each, one not only lost a great percentage in their body fat, and lost weight, but they felt so much better in the sense, they came back down to the REAL TIME WORLD --- reality.  They made true commitments to some of the relationships they hadn't realized they damaged, they discovered foods they liked by cooking more.  They found new workouts they had no clue existed, or they challenged themselves to do and stay consistent with it.  One of my students got back on track with their spirituality. One of them decided to have a cooking night with her friends that were gymrats, this way while socializing with them, they could all try new things.  This being done without their phones, leaving the environment completely authentic and being truly PRESENT.  They were happier and lighter.  THIS SERIOUSLY MADE ME SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THEM BOTH.  I know it wasn't easy.  But THEY DID IT!!!!

Yes it's frustrating to sit back and watch.   But you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make the horse drink it.  Some will stay in denial while they must be seen.  Some will keep talking the talk. As a trainer there's nothing I can do about it, but move on to the one's that truly want help and change and put in the actual time, REAL TIME.  Actions speak volumes.   It's clear who the addicts are. You probably know one or two.  But like any addict, they themselves have to recognize it, admit it, get real and follow through with ACTION (not talk) to correct it.  IT CAN BE CORRECTED.  I promise you that. I've seen it, I've coached folks to learn balance.  

Ask yourself, how many times a week do you drive home without hitting the gym (and I'm not talking about driving to the gym to hit a cardio machine, unless you have a cardio day that's worked into a balanced week's workout)?  How many times have you actually gone to the gym and left your phone in the car?  (It's a good habit to get into, as long as it's hidden of course.)  Test yourself, be honest and document how many hours per day you have spent uploading pictures onto social media, updating status', scrolling down to see what everybody is doing in there life, etc.  Some would be very surprised at the score, VERY SURPRISED.  You know how fast an hour can go by when you are scrolling or working on selfies? There should be a balance if you have goals to better yourself. 

THE CELL PHONE HAS BECOME A NEMESIS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.   It's unbelievable to me.    I don't buy excuses anymore.  I've been in this industry way too long to even hear a new one and actually buy it.  

My latest motto is STARVE YOUR DISTRACTIONS and FEED YOUR FOCUS.  You are the only one that can do this.  Don't let a damn phone and social media stand in the way of the body you want.  I can say I can look at a few people and in my mind I think, my god, had they stopped being so focused on social media, they could have a rockin' tight, fit and firm body.  Their fitness progress doesn't even have to be the way that it is at this present time, if they would just STOP putting distractions in the way of their goals.  I as a professional person in the fitness industry cannot just TALK.  I set an example.  I live, eat and breathe my goals.  I adjust my play time accordingly.  My wellness comes first.   For some, fitness is their therapy.  For me, it is as well.  It's incredible to push your body to the limits you THINK you have.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO A 21 DAY CHALLENGE -- PUT THE PHONE DOWN.  STAY OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA  (even dating sites)-- ALL OF IT. Come back to reality, re-group with your ego, rebuild your relationships you may unknowingly damaged, spend quality time with your family/friends, turn up the stereo in your home and experiment in the kitchen. TURN UP THE VOLUME IN YOUR LIFE WITHOUT HAVING TO POST IT (journal throughout this time.  Every time you feel the need to log on, grab your journal and write....YOU CAN DO THIS AND I'M RIGHT HERE TO BE YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY COACH.  

Always In Fitness,
THAT Gym Girl